A detail from the re-furbished interior of St Andrew's Cathedral in Clyde Street. Photograph by Rosie Griffin Glasgow Building Preservation Trust

There is no doubt what a lot of people will be doing this week-end – Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September. They’ll be knocking on doors that are specially open where they are invited in (usually at no cost!) to see what goes on in that place.

The magnificent Doors Open Day festival of Glasgow’s Built Heritage has more than 100 venues waiting for the visitors. Which doesn’t count the walking tours and talks which have been available throughout this week and the dozen allotments which will open their Gates on Doors Open Day weekend!

There are 16 new venues this year including the beautifully refurbished St Andrew’s Cathedral in Clyde Street. And there are free buses from George Square to Provan Hall in Easterhouse and a free bus service to Castlemilk Stables thanks to Cassiltoun Housing Association whose offices are in the complex.

There will be a host of walks on both Saturday and Sunday which enable experts to tell the stories of the places on that route. Check the website for up-to-the-minutes details: www.glasgowdoorsopenday.com

And don’t forget your camera for the photographic competition as well as the Passport competition for everyone under 16.

The Riverside Museum designed by Zaha Hadid will be open as usual with the Glenlee 19th century sailing ship at the door.

You don’t even need to knock! More than 100 buildings and 12 allotments will be taking part in Glasgow’s Doors Open Day on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September. But the first Doors Open event starts on Monday 12 September with a hosts of talks, competitions and walks scheduled for the rest of that week in the run-up to the grand weekend. Look out for your free copy of the booklet containing all the information. They can be found in most public places like libraries. But also look on the website for details: www.glasgowdoorsopenday.com The Doors Open Day host, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, has organised a clever link with Google Map to pinpoint each venue you might be interested in.

For anyone who has not yet enjoyed Doors Open Day, the whole idea is that you get to see inside some of the city’s magnificent buildings that would not normally be open to the public. Among the new places this year are Red Road Community Flat in the 31 storey tower block in Springburn. They are set to be demolished soon. The former Our Lady and St Francis Secondary School which is now the HQ for the Wise Group in Charlotte Street, G1 5DW. Hampden Park for football fans in Letherby Drive, G42 9BA. The Hunterian Museum within Glasgow University G12 8QQ and a multitude of other interesting places.

Running alongside the Doors Open will be OPEN GATES in which twelve of the city’s allotments will put out the welcome mat and people can see what happens there.

Free shuttle buses will operate from the front of Glasgow City Chambers in George Square to go to historic Provan Hall in Easterhouse – at least as old as Proven’s Lordship in the city’s High Street. Another free service will go the award winning Stables building in Castlemilk thanks to Cassiltoun Housing Association.

A photographic competition will have a category for over 18s and for under 18s with fabulous prizes. For those aged under 16 a fascinating Passport competition will be running. In marked venues, a question will be displayed related to the building itself. Each competitor is challenged to find the answer to that question within that venue and do the same for at least four different places with the deadline for sending in the forms being Friday 30 September.

The whole concept is a great way to get people talking and walking and gaining knowledge of and a pride in this wonderful city of Glasgow.

Doors Open Day will soon be here. The festival which enables a multitude of organisations to open their premises to the public on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September now has its 2011 brochure being distributed. Find your free copy in libraries and other public spots. Highlights include storytelling at Partick Curling Clubhouse and Castlemilk Stables; a Children’s Passport Competition; Red Road Flats before they are demolished, 22 Heritage Trail walks by Land and Environmental Services; and dozens of other exciting talks, events and places to enjoy. See their website: www.glasgowdoorsopenday.com for up-to-date information.

Editor's Corner

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